The Biographical Dictionary of America/Coates, Samuel

COATES, Samuel, philanthropist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 24, 1748 (O.S.); youngest son of Samuel and Mary (Langdale) Coates, and grandson of Thomas Coates who came from Leicestershire, England, in 1683. His father having died while the son was quite young he became a member of the household of an uncle by marriage, John Reynell, an eminent shipping merchant of Philadelphia, under whose charge he received a thorough classical education and commercial training. When nineteen years old, in pursuance of his mercantile training he was placed in charge of a small commercial business and on May 31, 1771, this was merged into that of Reynell & Coates. This partnership terminated in 1783 by the retirement of Mr. Reynell. Shortly afterward Mr. Coates entered into partnership in the shipping and West India trade with his elder brother Josiah Langdale Coates, and in 1791 he engaged on his own account in the New England trade. His business was closed by the yellow-fever epidemic in 1793, and he subsequently devoted his time chiefly to philanthropic works. In July, 1785, he was elected to the board of managers of the Pennsylvania hospital and served as its secretary twenty-six years and its president for thirteen years. The memorial adopted by the managers at a special meeting called for the purpose at his death, says: "No individual ever connected with the administration of the hospital bestowed so much personal attention upon its affairs; and a considerable portion of the funds which have enlarged the usefulness of this noble charity, were obtained by his impressive and unwearied petition in its behalf. The benevolence and vigor of his mind were developed on all occasions when suffering humanity made the appeal." During the terrible scourge by yellow fever in 1793, he took personal charge of the hospital and devoted himself solely to the work of combating the pestilence and caring for the sufferers; rendering also similar services in the epidemic of 1798. He was chiefly instrumental in obtaining from Benjamin West, president of the Royal academy of arts in London, the gift to the hospital of West's great painting, " Christ Healing the Sick," which now hangs in its halls. He was elected treasurer of the Philadelphia library in 1784, and for forty years was treasurer of that library and of its affiliated institution, the Loganian library. On Jan. 6, 1800, he was elected a director of the original Bank of the United States, and was still a director at the winding up of its affairs in 1812. He was for nearly thirty-seven years a member of " The over- seers of the public schools founded by charter in the town and county of Philadelphia, a body dating from 1701, having charge of all public education under three successive charters from William Penn, and still in existence in modified form in 1899, being then confined to the oversight of a single school. He was agent of the heirs of William Penn in charge of their interests in America after the Revolution, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John Reynell Coates, who was succeeded by General Thomas Cadwalader. In 1824 and 1825 Samuel Coates resigned from his various activities on account of age and failing sight. He was married in 1775, to Lydia, daughter of Joseph Saunders; she died in 1789, leaving two sons and two daughters. In 1791 he was married to Amy, daughter of Benjamin Hornor; two of his sons by this marriage were Dr. Benjamin Hornor and Dr. Reynell Coates. He was a member of the Society of Friends. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., June 4, 1830.